Yosemite cabins in rockfall zone may be removed

Yosemite National Park may lose a piece of park history. Century-old cabins in the park's Curry Village may be removed from an area that's been closed since a 2008 rockfall.

Rocks hit 17 cabins where children were staying on a field trip. No one was hurt, but park officials closed down the cabins and a few other homes in the rockfall area.

An environmental assessment released Tuesday calls the area a "major risk to public health and safety for visitors, as well as park employees who patrol the site."

The environmental review of 72 buildings in an area below the sheer granite face of Glacier Point recommends removing the cabins, salvaging the materials and allowing the area to return to its natural state.

Other options under review include keeping some of the most historic structures maintained and in place until they can be moved elsewhere, or keeping just those that represent different architectural styles.

Park officials will make a decision on the village's future next month.